Another delay…I sincerely apologize but I've got no real excuse…it just took a long time to put together. And I am truly sad to announce that there is only going to be one more chapter, and then an epilogue for this story =( It's been a longgg road with this characters, and I love them so. Honestly, I've gotten too attached. I want to get this story wrapped up, so my plan is to have the epilogue posted just before Christmas and then it will be done. I'm going to miss it, but as always I am extremely thankful for all of your reviews, support, kind words, and all of you nagging for the next chapter's to be posted. Haha I'm kidding about that last part- it was always very welcome motivation to get the chapter finished.

I'm getting a little ahead of myself with the thank you's but I might as well do it now. Huge, huge, huge shout-out goes to Wendy aka Twilight44 for being such an amazing pre-reader. I appreciate sooo much and I'm glad you're pre-reading another one of my stories so that I don't have to say goodbye to you when this one is done. Another shout-out to beegurl13 for…um…she knows what I'm talking about! And of course, a big thanks goes out to everyone else for reviewing and sticking with it when the road got bumpy. Edward and Bella and Avery, not to mention me, thank you for it.

Aw. There are still two chapters left, but I don't want to have to end it. So we'll just continue with this chapter so that I don't start crying.

...

BPOV

I probably should have waited to open the letter, but I couldn't contain myself. With Esme still standing there, I ripped open the envelope.

"I…I should go," Esme said, biting her bottom lip. "Bella, it was nice seeing you. Um, if you need anything, you know where to find me." She hurried out of the store, and I stood there clutching the open envelope to my chest. Hurrying back behind the counter, I pulled some papers out of the envelope and sucked in a deep breath.

The first packet of papers looked ominous, so I pushed it aside and unfolded the handwritten note instead.

Dear Bella,

Before I can even begin to forgive you, there are some things that you need to know. I wish I could say this to your face, but I don't think I would be able. Because honestly, all I want to do is forgive you- even though part of me is certain that you don't deserve it.

First of all, I want you to know how painful it was for you to leave Avery and me the way you did. I can't even begin to imagine what was going through your mind. You're a smart girl, so how could you do something so freaking stupid? When I first came home that morning I knew that something was wrong. I realized you were gone, but when I couldn't find Avery I could barely breathe. The pain of you leaving was bad enough…but that thought that you might have taken Avery with you was too much.

I would honestly rather be in rehab again, going through the torture that is withdrawal from cocaine and prescription drugs than for you to have taken her from me, too. For the first time since I've been clean, I felt like I needed something to take the pain away and make me feel numb.

But I didn't do it- because I knew my daughter needed me to be there for her, just like she needed you. But you left her, and me, and I still can't get it through my head why you didn't just talk to me. I know we fight and our relationship was far from perfect…but could you really not have just said something to me? If you were feeling overwhelmed, we could have left Avery with Charlie, even Alice, and gone away for the weekend. Hell, I would have watched Avery on my own for a few days if you wanted to be alone. But you were too cowardly to even say anything so instead you ripped out my heart and left.

You told me at Avery's birthday party that you love me. For some reason, I can't believe you. Maybe it's because I've loved you all along, and you've just been floating along in our relationship. I tried to give you space- I didn't want to move too fast. But it didn't matter and you ran off anyway.

Did you think that I wouldn't care? That Charlie wouldn't care? Or even Alice? We were all frantic, Bella. I was about to get the police involved until Charlie told me that you were safe with your mom in Seattle. And that's when I thought that I would just forget about you.

I wanted to forget you and your selfishness and raise Avery on my own until I realized that it would probably be impossible for me to ever forget you. You're Avery's mother; you're the girl that I'm still in love with even though you broke my heart without a second thought.

I'm sorry for what you've been through since you've left. I wish I could have been there to protect you and take care you of- but leaving was your own decision. Otherwise, I would have been there for you. That sounds harsh, but you know as well as I do that it's nothing but the truth.

I still love you, I won't deny it. But I can't just let you back into my life, let alone our daughter's life, until you make a few changes. You have to make up your mind- no more going out to "find yourself" and "grow up". You already are yourself, Bella, and I love you in spite of everything else. And whether you'll admit it or not, you are also already grown up…you just don't act like it all the time.

Stop trying to change yourself so dramatically and just think about your priorities in life.

If Avery and I are still a priority in your life, come back. Live with Charlie for awhile and then we'll see how things go from there. Hopefully, I'll be able to forgive you and maybe things can finally be normal between us, and maybe Avery can actually have a normal family.

If it weren't for her, I would take you back in a heartbeat. But she's my baby. I can't just let you back into our lives immediately without knowing if you'll run away again- please understand that.

You have my cell phone number, so call when you've made up your mind.

-Edward

Wiping away the tears that had gathered in my eyes, I put the note down and reached for the other packet of papers and unfolded it. My heart caught in my throat again as I read and realized what these legal papers were…they were for me to sign away my rights. Edward really was serious…it was either get back into Avery's life, or stay out of it for good.

Part of me was fuming that he had set that ultimatum for me like this, but the other part of me knew that if I were in his shoes, I would have done it too.

I took a deep breath to clear my head, and then through the legal papers into the trash without a second thought. I wasn't going to do that. I was going to make things better. With shaking hands, I got my phone out of my pocket and dialed Edward's cell phone number, anxious and scared and a little happy all at the same time. It was almost too overwhelming.

"Hello?" Edward's voice was still very much the same but was also different, and I knew why. He had gotten everything off of his chest. He had laid it all out, and now it was my turn to make a move.

"Hey," I said quietly, closing my eyes briefly. "It's me. Bella. I got your, um, letter."

He was silent for a moment, and his voice was hushed when he spoke. "Okay. Well…I hope you understand what I'm trying to get across…it was hard to word. But do you know what you're going to do?"

"Yeah." A tear escaped from my eye and slid down my cheek. "I…I've got some loose ends to tie up here…but then I'll be back. I'm going to talk to Charlie and then explain to my mom…"

Edward exhaled loudly, and I knew that he was relieved. "Alright. Uh, good. Is your mom…is she going to be okay with all of this?" He asked.

"Yes. I think so…she wants what is best for me, I know that now. At first I convinced myself that I hated her for trying to make me grow up so quickly, but really, I needed that push. It may have taken a while for me to get there…but I'm working on it. She's actually been talking to me about going to live with Charlie again for a little while, anyway." I rambled on for a bit and then finally fell silent, wondering what else Edward had to say.

"Okay. I've already talked to Charlie about it, by the way. He thinks it's a good idea. And, um, Alice has already promised to watch Avery if you ever need her. Jasper, too."

It was odd to hear Edward talk about Alice and Jasper because I had known them first…they had almost been friends, real friends, before I had left. And instead of being there for me like they would have been if I had allowed it, they had both stepped up for Avery and Edward and I was thankful for it.

"I'll be there next week," I promised, and then we said our goodbyes and both hung up the phone.

I stood there in the bookshop with my mind going in a thousand different directions, and all I could think about was the opportunity that Edward had just given me. I had finally gotten that second chance, and I was going to take it. For Avery, Edward, Charlie, Renée, Alice, and even Jasper…but most of all, for myself.

Whew. Please review…let me know what you think. I want to get the next chapter done by next weekend, so stay tuned.

Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie